Those of you who advised me on whether or not I should buy a bike (and what kind) will be happy to know that I bought one! I answered a listing on the Facebook Marketplace about a bike for sale, and paid $20 for a women’s bike with a bent wheel. I’m going to have to replace the wheel, which will be another $30, but I’m content with that.
I looked several places, including Craigslist, and made plans to visit some bike stores and ask questions. But then the listing for a $20 broken bike popped up on my Facebook page, so I made an appointment to check it out. I took my boyfriend, who very un-helpfully shrugged at me most of the time (even though he supposedly knows more about bikes that I do).
But the bike is in good shape (aside from the back wheel!) and looks good for what I need, so I bought it. Hopefully we’ll get it in working order before summer “vacation” hits, so that I can take advantage of a more lax schedule.
I absolutely recommend, if you’re a Facebook user already, that you use the Marketplace feature for both your “wanted” and “for sale” classifieds. I’ve bought and sold textbooks on there before, and it works pretty well. The nice thing is that it puts the listings in your area, and it pops up on your friends’ pages, so you might just be able to make a transaction with someone you already know!
I’ve got a bike! π
I got a new bike too π But not for $20 lol
I’m going to have to check out Facebook Marketplace. I’m kind of new to Facebook in general and haven’t really found the value there. This is finally something of definable value.
Hey congratulations on the new wheels! I got my bike for $5 at a yard sale. All it needed was air in the tires: It’s great. I never suspected when I bought it that it would become my main means of transportation though. Good thing I sneaked in before the crowd, huh? Enjoy!
I got my bike at a “recovered bike” sale at a local university, where they sell the bikes that people abandon/forget on campus. Excellent deals.
Congrats on getting the bike. It’s a bit of a lifestyle change to ride the bike, however it’s a lot more cost effective.
My lease ran out on my car, and I said that I’m not getting another car until I lose 85 lbs. I’ve been bicycling since March 1st and am getting into pretty good shape.
Riding a bike is not as convenient as driving a car, however, I’m saving lots of money, and losing my 85 lbs!!
Congrats on the new ride!
get that wheel fixed (definitely), and get out there!
Oh, and I second the Facebook marketplace. Not as dependable as craigslist or ebay, but when something comes through, it’s usually good (and convenient).
Biking is my main mode of transportation in the summer/spring/fall. With the gas prices increasing, I don’t think I can afford to drive anyway!
Congrats! I have always wanted to get a bike. they make for great exercise.
useful post. thanks
That was a bargain if you asked me π Hopefully you fixed it for a change.
You inpired me to check my facebook marketplace right now, so see ya and best regards π
Sweet deal! Thanks for the tip, it’s time to go to the Facebook marketplace and see what deals I can find π
Make sure you have someone with you who knows bikes! Check the brakes, the wheels, the tires, the cables… all of it! If someone’s selling their bike, there’s a reason. You want a bike that’s being sold because the owner has no time for it, not a bike that’s beyond repair in some way!
I don’t think you’ve thought this tuoghrh. I hope you like staying home on rainy/snowy days. Nobody will want to go anywhere with you because you won’t be able to drive them and nobody likes the guy who asks for rides all the time. Have fun being a hermit
Sushant… who are you even talking to? You replied to Zak, who said nothing about buying a bike, only that he was going to go to Facebook Marketplace to look for deals. If you were trying to reply to me, I think you missed the entire point. Not only did I buy the bike over four years ago (therefore making your comments on hermitage four years too late), I also never intended to replace my car with a bike. I’ve kept my Oldsmobile this entire time.
But disregarding all of that… I think you’re dead wrong. Cars are not the only way to get around in many places, and if you do live in a place with lots of alternatives, skipping the car is completely possible. I now live in the exurbs of Washington, DC – and there’s transportation galore here. Frequently when I go out with friends, we take public transportation by choice, even though most of us have cars. Cheaper, and easier than looking for parking!
One of my coworkers went for years without a car, and only purchased one recently because she’s having a baby and had to move a bit further away from our office, so she can’t take the bus into work anymore. But she was never a hermit or a burden on those of us with cars – she went out as much as anyone else, and we’d happily drive her home or to a bus stop sometimes, because it was on our way or we just enjoyed conversing with her during the short trip.
There’s also, you know, walking. People count walking out, but I wish they wouldn’t. For many people, it’s a viable option that gets cast aside.
Honestly, I’d still like to forgo having a car, but the trip between my home and work isn’t viable for walking, biking, or public transportation at this time. But social stuff? 90% of the time, my friends hang out in places that are walking distance from either my office or my apartment. The only reason I need a car is for work.
I have been both selling and buying on ebay, but I never tried to do something like this on Facebook. I guess I just don’t trust Facebook as much as ebay or Craigslist. Recently, I started using Facebook a lot and your post makes me think about giving the marketplace app a try. Thanks!